Alexia Rivera | Contributing Writer
He didn’t know it then, but writing for FIU’s school newspaper would change the trajectory of his life.
Miami’s WLRN reporter and FIU alumnus Joshua Ceballos finalized for the 2026 Pulitzer Prize in local reporting with his team for a series called “Killer Train” which investigated South Florida’s Brightline devastations.
“I don’t know if I would have ever imagined that I was going to be an investigative journalist or even a Pulitzer recognized journalist,” said Ceballos. “Not in my wildest dreams did I think that would happen.”
“Killer Train” was a joint effort from both WLRN and Miami Herald’s investigative teams.
“My hope, and I think all of us on the team, our hope, is that we help the change in public perception,” said Ceballos.
He explains that many people think Brightline fatalities are caused by carelessness or suicide.
While this is partially true, the purpose of the investigative stories was to show readers that many casualties were accidental and to examine how Brightline responded to them.
Along with finalizing for a Pulitzer, contributors for “Killer Train” also received an IRE award and were semifinalists for the 2026 Goldsmith Prize.
For Ceballos, the awards are a bonus, but his true win takes place in the stories’ impact.
In one of his contributing stories, co-written with Allison Beck, “Can a person survive being hit by a Brightline train? At least 62 people have so far” he investigated multiple different perspectives and misconceptions about Brightline victims.
“We’re doing this to help people,” he said. “We’re doing this to make some change hopefully and save some lives.”
Having worked for WLRN for three years as a Local Government Accountability Reporter and a member of the investigations team, Ceballos knew this story held importance nationally but still had doubts.
“There was a fear that people weren’t going to care,” he said.
“But I think that all went away when we started interviewing people that had really strong feelings about this.”
Eventually these stories influenced millions of dollars to improve railroad safety with Brightline.
Taking this chance led Ceballos to significant accomplishments, and he explains that FIU has a huge part in that.
“Growing up I never thought I’d be a reporter.”
Walking through the Graham Center during the spring semester of his freshman year, Ceballos found himself writing for what is now Panther Now, which was known then as “The Beacon.”
“I enjoyed it so much, just writing for a living, meeting new people all the time and then eventually doing stuff that was important.”
Ceballos held many positions for Panther Now such as assistant entertainment director, assistant news director, and investigative editor.
During his time at FIU, he reported on the Student Government Association and the school’s financial accountability which inspired his path to continue covering government to this day.
He explained how he would sit in public meetings that no one else went to.
“They all looked at me funny, which told me that it was a good thing that I was there.”
After a rough senior year in 2020 and COVID-19 stripping him of a fellowship with the Phoenix New Times, Cabellos still managed to land a job with Miami New Times in April.
Before joining WLRN two and a half years later, Miami New Times also played an important role in his career.
“I think at my core I’m still a New Times journalist because I have a chip on my shoulder and I need to be, you know, calling people out.”
Ceballos has worked on other projects with WLRN such as “History We Call Home” which featured South Florida cities and landmarks that turned 100 years old.
Born and raised in Miami as a first-generation American, Ceballos continues advocating for people in his community through his reporting and it all goes back to his time as a Panther.
“I learned everything through student media. So, that goes to show you what a powerful thing it is to be a student reporter,” he said.
“One day, you can be a Pulitzer finalist.”
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